Sonata Romantica, Op. 53, No. 1

By 1930, Medtner had spent nearly a decade in exile and found himself increasingly isolated from contemporary musical trends. While many composers embraced modernism, he remained committed to melody, contrapuntal writing, and classical forms. The title Romantica was therefore more than descriptive—it was a declaration of artistic faith. The sonata stands as a defense of the Romantic tradition in an era when many considered it obsolete.